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Selena Gomez confirms lupus diagnosis, chemotherapy treatment

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Selena Gomez' new album Revival drops on Friday, but the Grand Prairie-native had more news to share with the world — she has lupus, an incurable autoimmune disease.

Billboard

Gomez confirmed the diagnosis in an interview with Billboard for a cover story.

"I was diagnosed with lupus, and I've been through chemotherapy. That's what my break was really about. I could've had a stroke," she said about the cancelation of the Asian and Australian legs of her Stars Dance tour in late 2013 and early 2014.

The tour cancellation led to speculation of drug and alcohol abuse. The Huffington Post reported at the time that Gomez was admitted to Dawn at The Meadows, a recovery and treatment center for young adults in Wickenburg, Ariz.

"I wanted so badly to say, 'You guys have no idea. I'm in chemotherapy. You're assholes.' I locked myself away until I was confident and comfortable again," she told Billboard.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes many different symptoms including extreme fatigue, headaches, fever, swollen joints, anemia, pain in the chest, a butterfly rash on the face, light sensitivity and hair loss. Scientists are not sure what causes the disease, but many believe that it develops as a response to hormone levels, genetics and the environment.

Selena Gomez

There is no known cure for lupus. However, treatments including doses of steroids and in some cases chemotherapy drugs have proved successful in managing symptoms of the disease.

More than 16,000 Americans are diagnosed with lupus annually according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Women of childbearing age (between 15 to 44 years old) are most commonly diagnosed, however the disease does present in men as well.

Gomez is scheduled to perform in Dallas at the American Airlines Center June 18, 2016. Tickets go on sale October 17, 2015.